Studio Master, First Year (BA (Hons)/AA Intermediate Programme)

Location: London – Bedford Square

Reports to: Head of First Year

Hours of work: Part Time; 2 days per week/0.4 FTE

The AA is an independent architectural school and an international cultural institution that serves as a forum for ideas. Being a major Centre for debate, the AA offers an unparalleled public programme of lectures, symposia, and exhibitions, together with accompanying publications.

The Architectural Association was founded in 1847, opening as a day school in 1901. The AA is committed to public benefit attained by the learning, teaching, discussion and promotion of architecture. The School is recognised as a worldwide leader in architectural education, with graduates that include many of the world’s leading architects, scholars, critics and educators. The academic and professional programmes of study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, up to and including doctoral level, are validated by external professional and academic bodies.

The AA campus is located in historic 18th century Bedford Square in London with a 350 acre woodland setting in Hooke Park in Dorset. The AA has an annual revenue of £18 million, a student body of 1000 students, 200 faculty, 90 staff, 6,500 members and thousands of visitors that come to engage with the most relevant debates in architecture today.

Role Overview:

We are seeking an individual with a strong record of teaching in architecture. The candidate is expected to have experience teaching undergraduate students for a minimum of 3 years and have a good knowledge of architectural history and theory. The candidate will have experience of teaching architecture through innovative methods, including through discussion, through making, and through visual representations.

The role requires the delivery of high-quality, tailored, student-centred teaching. The candidate will also have excellent communication skills and transparency in their interaction with colleagues as well as students. Experience related to professional practice in architecture is very welcome but not mandatory.

The role involves working alongside a team of tutors and the Head of First Year. The academic year is structured around 6 briefs-exercises (2 each term), and the candidate is expected to teach to a group of 14 students that will be assigned randomly for each brief. The general briefs are defined by the Head of First Year. Individual tutors are then expected to write their own brief-exercises that address a specific topic by deciding upon a particular emphasis, tools, media, deliverables and format of teaching. Tutors may decide to collaborate on a specific brief by teaching in pairs.

The successful candidate will be expected to take up appointment on 1st August 2025. Preliminary meetings with the Head of First Year and other tutors can take place in July (physical or online). During August 2025, the candidate is not required to be at the AA and will be expected to work independently to prepare the first teaching exercise of the academic year.

Beginning 15th September 2025, the candidate is expected to teach 2-days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, and to attend assessment panels in January, March and June.

What we offer:

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, including up to 40 days’ leave per annum, in addition to Bank Holiday, a defined pension scheme, season ticket loans and access to professional development opportunities.

You will also be able to take part and be involved in a creative and unique teaching environment, where the students display their amazing work with various on-site exhibitions, public programmes and lectures.

Our Bedford Square campus is based just a 5-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road station, right in the heart of Central London.

How to Apply:

Please email the below documents to recruitment@aaschool.ac.uk (via the 'Apply' button above) by the closing date of 16th June 2025 stating the job title in the subject heading.

• AA Application Form
• Cover Letter / Email highlighting why you feel you are the right person for the role. This should be no more than two-pages
• Full CV

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Interviews will be held the week commencing on 23rd June 2025.

Informal enquires should be addressed to recruitment@aaschool.ac.uk or 02078874079.

We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Please note that it will not be possible for the AA School to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for successful candidates. Therefore, the appointed candidate will need to be eligible to work in the UK for the duration of their employment with the AA School, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Thank you for your interest in the AA and this role.